Biblical Answer

Did Jesus Fast?

Jesus fasted for forty days and nights in the wilderness, which reminds us of Moses' experience at Sinai (Exod. 34:28). The text does not indicate whether Jesus' fast was total or if he was limited to subsisting on the meager fare available in the wilderness. After fasting for forty days, Jesus would have been in no condition to climb even a small hill unless he drew on the divine power Satan was asking him to use so as to bypass his human limitations.

Jesus' fast is not directly addressed in the text, but he uses a series of analogies to assert that it is not an appropriate time for his disciples to fast, although they will fast in the future (v. 20; cf. Matt. 9:15). Jesus' attitude to fasting is not one of repudiation, but rather an emphasis on its value as a sign of repentance before God rather than as an effort to impress others with personal piety. He assumes that his disciples will continue to practice voluntary fasting based on spiritual interest and hunger.

Jesus' experience of fasting is also reflected in the New Testament, where it is mentioned as a means of choosing church leaders (Acts 13:2-3; 14:23). Jesus' fast is seen as a model for future fasting, and he assumes that his followers will fast when the time is right (Matt. 6:16-18). Jesus' emphasis on fasting is not on the physical act itself, but rather on the spiritual hunger and repentance that it represents. He encourages his followers to fast when they are in need of spiritual renewal and growth.